Printed, Flexible and Organic Electronics

IDTechEx features Printed Electronics, Wearable Tech, Energy Harvesting, IoT and 3D Printing

First was the significant investment from the materials community but now the equipment industry has turned its attention to printed electronics as a growth opportunity.

Structural electronics (SE) is one of the most important emerging technologies in this century.

Adds Experienced Manager to its Rapidly Growing Japan Team. Tokyo, Japan and Cambridge, UK - Oct. 20, 2014 - IDTechEx the leader in market research on emerging technologies today announced the expansion of its Japan office with the hiring of Mr. Yasuo Yamamoto as its head of business development in Japan.

In 2012 347 million people worldwide had diabetes according to the World Health Organization. Disposable glucose test strips have improved the lives of millions of diabetic patients who need to monitor their blood glucose level on a regular basis.

IDTechEx, the global market research, technology scouting and events firm, finds that in 2014 three technologies - OLED displays, sensors and conductive ink - make up 99% of the $23.97 billion market for printed, organic and flexible electronics.

The Apple Watch was officially announced earlier this month, with the promise that it will come with a flexible display. However, there is some confusion about what the term means and what the benefits are for consumers. Dr Guillaume Chansin, co-author of the IDTechEx report "OLED Display Forecasts 2014-2024: the rise of plastic and flexible displays" gives his view on flexible displays.

Electronics embedded within the structure of bridges, walkways, EVs, aircraft and more, have the potential to be a $60 billion market by 2025.

Over the past five years there have been a large number of companies developing Transparent Conductive Film (TCF) alternatives for Indium Tin Oxide (ITO). Including material providers and film providers, research and events firm IDTechEx has profiled almost 100 organizations working across more than 12 types of transparent conductive film technologies.

In this article we focus on the current status of the main printed electronics technologies for components in consumer goods and healthcare applications, providing for each one market drivers, case studies and key suppliers, cost structures and challenges.